Apparatus and methods for transferring printer driver preferences

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with common personal preferences for printer drivers. The set preferences for the printer driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one driver to another. The system involves the provision of a common format for printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought to a system or a user moves to a station that uses a different printer, the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, an MIS department may provide a corporate wide printer preference solution, for example for printing a particular page or printing in a particular style. The preferences may not be identical for each printer due to differences in the capabilities of various platforms. The printer preferences overwrite a default value in printers with preferences, to the extent that each printer has the options available. To the extent that these options are not available, the printer reverts to its default setting.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/360,861, filed 23 Jul. 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.______.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to the field of printer driver preferencesystems. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus andmethods for transferring printer driver preferences across a networkbetween client computers.

In the prior art, printer driver preferences are typically definedwithin an open file in an active application on a client computer, basedupon the available print options for a currently chosen connected outputdevice, such as a printer. The user selects from a varied list ofselectable options within a printer driver preferences menu, pertainingto the file to be printed, and to the available options for the selectedprinter. Selected file specific options may be selected paper size(e.g., letter, legal, A4), reduction or enlargement, page orientation(e.g., vertical or horizontal), or font substitution. Specific printeroptions may be color quality, resolution enhancement, selected papertray, and printing order.

The process of defining such printer driver preferences is typicallycomplicated and time consuming, and has to be performed for most filesto be printed (default printer driver preferences occasionally allowadequate printing of basic business documents, such as black and whitetext printing having a vertical orientation on letter size paper from adefault paper tray).

In a work environment having more than one printer and more than oneclient computer, it is presently difficult and time consuming to defineprinter driver preferences repeatedly. A single user, having access tomultiple client computers, commonly has to repeatedly configure one ormore sets of printer driver preferences for each of the machines, evenfor the same document file. As well, for a business in which multipleusers operate multiple client computers, there are often collaborativework projects which require a consistent format for portions of theproject.

Russell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,046 (“Russell”) discloses a circuitboard coupled to a printer for interfacing the printer to a LAN. Abidirectional printer interface on the board transmits print data to theprinter and receives printer status data from the printer. A processoron the board executes both application programs and status and controlprograms. Although Russell discloses a circuit board to couple a printerto a LAN to permit the printer to be “responsive, intelligent member” ofa network, there is no disclosure of a the transfer, translation,modification or reuse of sets of printer driver preferences.

Brindle et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,801 discloses a network “wherein aplurality of independent computers having various page descriptionlanguages (PDL's) interface with a central computer through a pluralityof lines, a system allows the user or administrator of a computer oneach line to elect whether the line shall have the property ofpersistence of a PDL for all jobs coming through the line, or whether anew PDL shall be activated as necessary depending on the particularline.”

Saulpaugh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,076 (“Saulpaugh”) and Kathail etal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,365 (“Kathail”) disclose a “method and mechanismfor automatically correlating a device to its appropriate driver withina computer system utilizing candidate matching. A device tree indicatingdevices coupled to a computer system is available from an operatingsystem. Within the device tree are device nodes which specify aparticular device's name and a property which indicates compatibledevice names to the particular device. Drivers can include a data fieldindicating a driver name indicative of a corresponding device with whichthey operate. For a particular device, the system constructs a candidatelist of drivers by comparing (1) the device name and 2) the compatiblenames from the device tree against all the driver names of data fieldsof known drivers.” Although Saulpaugh and Kathail disclose methods andmechanisms for automatically correlating a devices to their appropriatedrivers within computer systems, they fail to disclose the reuse ortransfer of drivers within a networked environment. As well, they failto disclose any translation of one or more preferences between drivers.

Motoyama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,388 discloses a document processingsystem which “controls the printing of documents represented in pagedescription language form. Documents are represented by a pagedescription language which is structured so that definition anddeclaratory commands are positioned only at the beginning of eachdistinct document segment.”

Kageyama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,757 (“Kageyama”) discloses aprinting system having a plurality of terminal equipment, a plurality ofprinters that can be shared by the terminal equipment, and one or moreprinter/spooler control servers for receiving a print from the terminalequipment, and for controlling the print job by a printer. The systemalso includes a distributed printing management server, for variouserrors that occur in the printers. Although Kageyama discloses anetworked printing system, print jobs are transferred through the printserver.

Barrett et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,056 disclose a method and apparatusfor interfacing a peripheral to a LAN with an interactive network boardconnected to the peripheral device. An access management programestablishes direct communication between a network client and thenetwork board. The board may also execute a peripheral server programsuch as a print server.

In some recent prior art systems (such as Printer Driver Model No.CLJ8500, from Hewlett Packard Corporation, of Palo Alto Calif.), withina single computer, a user can store and retrieve a set of printer driverpreferences, for a single output device. Although the set of printerdriver preferences is storable and retrievable, the defined set isspecific to a particular printer, and to a particular computer. Forexample, from within a word processing program, a user can navigate to aprinter driver set up interface, select options, save the selectedoptions as a defined set, and save the defined set. Subsequently, theuser may selectively retrieve the saved defined set of printer driveroptions, from a different file within the same application on thecomputer, or from another application on the same computer.

As a further example, a user may store a printer driver preference setfor a document design, designating document specific options, andprinter specific options to produce the document. Within the applicationin which the user creates the document design, upon creating a set ofprinter driver preferences, the user may save the settings (e.g., “MyDocument Settings”). The user may then retrieve those options within thesame computer, and use the retrieved set to print a different file, suchas a new document file, at the same destination printer.

However, there are currently no means by which one or more sets ofprinter driver preferences can be directly transferred or reused betweenclient computers. It would be advantageous to provide a system by whicha user can define a set of printer driver preferences at a first clientcomputer, and then transfer the defined set of printer driverpreferences across a network, such as to another client computer, aprinter, a print server, or other network device. As well, it would beadvantageous to selectively retrieve a set of printer driver preferencesfor a first printer, and use or modify the set, as necessary, as a setof printer driver preferences for a different printer.

When a user creates a set of printer driver preferences, such as for atype of printed document that the user commonly creates (e.g., ahorizontal format transparency), the user often has to recreate the sameset of printer driver preferences when creating another similardocument. It would therefore be advantageous to reuse the same set ofprinter driver preferences. It also would be advantageous to provide amethod to transfer printer driver preferences across a network, andprovide a method to merge or modify transferred printer driverpreferences, or to create new sets of transferable printer driverpreferences. Although the disclosed prior art systems and methodologiesprovide basic printer driver preference systems, they fail to providetransferable, reusable, and modifiable sets of printer driverpreferences. The development of such a transferable printer driverpreference system would constitute a major technological advance.

SUMMARY

A system is provided for supporting multiple platforms with commonpersonal preferences for printer drivers. The set of preferences for theprinter driver are therefore reusable and may be moved from one printerdriver to another. The system involves the provision of a common formatfor printer driver preferences. When a new printer is brought into asystem, or when a user moves to a station that uses a different printer,the preferences are readily moved to that location. Further, in anetworked environment were a plurality of computers operate incollaboration, an MIS department may provide a corporate wide printerpreference solution, for example printing a particular page or printingin a particular style. Although preferences may not be identical foreach printer, due to differences in the capabilities of variousplatforms, the system typically translates preferences between differentprinters, to the extent that each printer has the different optionsavailable. To the extent that one or more options within a set ofpreferences are not available at a destination printer, the systemtypically reverts to default settings for the destination printer, orallows the user to selectively modify the set of preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a reusable and transferable printer driversystem, wherein a set of printer driver preferences is transferablebetween client computers;

FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of a reusable and transferable printerdriver system, in which a plurality of client computers are connectedacross a network to each other and to a print server, and wherein a setof printer driver preferences is located on a first client computer;

FIG. 3 is a second view of the reusable and transferable printer driversystem of FIG. 2, in which the set of printer driver preference settingsis sent from the first client computer to the print server;

FIG. 4 is a third view of the reusable and transferable printer driversystem of FIG. 2, in which the stored set of printer driver preferencesettings is distributed to other client computers;

FIG. 5 shows a set of selected printer driver preference values, basedupon printer driver categories;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a user interface of a printer driver forreusable and transferable printer preferences, located on a clientcomputer;

FIG. 7 is detailed view of a user interface for a printer driver for thereusable and transferable printer preference system;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an active application on a client computerlinked to a printer driver for reusable and transferable printerpreferences;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a user interface for a printer driver forthe reusable and transferable printer preference system linked to anactive application on a client computer;

FIG. 10 is a settings submenu of a user interface for a printer driverfor the reusable and transferable printer preference system linked to anactive application on a client computer;

FIG. 11 shows a multiple printer embodiment of the transferable andreusable printer preference system;

FIG. 12 is a translation diagram typically used by the multiple printerembodiment of the transferable and reusable printer preference system;

FIG. 13 shows keyword matching between different sets of printerpreferences;

FIG. 14 shows selective merging of selected preferences between aplurality of sets of reusable and transferable printer preferences tocreate a new set of reusable and transferable printer preferences; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram a multiple printer embodiment of thetransferable and reusable printer preference system, wherein sets ofreusable and transferable preferences are established, stored andmaintained at a central administrative workstation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a reusable and transferable printer driversystem 10 a, wherein a set 16 of printer driver preferences 18 a-18 n istransferable 32 between a first client computer 12 a and a second clientcomputer 12 b. The client computers 12 a, 12 b are connected across anetwork 22 to each other (e.g., such as through computer networkconnections 33), and to a printer 26 (e.g., such as through printernetwork connections 19). The set 16 of printer driver preferences 18 isused by the first computer 12 a to define a printing process at theconnected printer 26, such as when sending 24 a a print job 21 from anapplication 20 to the printer 26.

In the embodiment shown, a first set 16 of printer driver preferencesettings 18 is located on the first client computer 12 a. The set 16 ofprinter driver settings 18 is sent 32 from the first client computer 12a to one or more other client computers (e.g., client computer 12 b),across the network 22. The transfer of sets 16 of preferences 18 betweencomputers 12 can be accomplished by several means, such as filetransfers, direct transfers, e-mail, or by any other electronic export32 or import 34 methods. The network 22 between connected devices, suchas client computers, may be any sort of direct connection, or may evenbe a wireless or PSTN based connection, such as an Internet or intranetconnection.

Although the set 16 of printer driver preferences 18 is defined beforebeing sent to the second client computer 12 b, the preference set 16provides a valuable resource to a user at the second client computer 12b. A significant portion of a set 16 of printer driver preferences 18often relates to a characteristic feature set 28 of a connected outputdevice (e.g., a printer 26). As well, many printer driver preferences 18are similar between similar print jobs 21, such as defined colorattributes for documents produced at one or more client computers 12 a,12 b. Therefore, although a single set 16 of printer driver preferences18 may take considerable time for a user to initially create (such as atthe first client computer 12 a), it is often advantageous to reuse allor part of a previously defined set 16 of printer driver preferences 18(such as at a second client computer 12 b).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a reusable andtransferable printer driver system 10 b. A plurality of client computers12 a-12 n are connected across a network 22, to each other, and to aprint server 42, having storage 44, which is connected 45 to a printer26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the set 16 of printer driverpreference settings 18 is initially located 40 a on a first clientcomputer 12 a. For example, a user at the first client computer 12 a maydefine a detailed set 16 of printer driver preference settings 18, inthe course of sending print jobs 21 to the print server 42 for printingat the printer 26.

FIG. 3 is a second view 40 b of the second embodiment of a reusable andtransferable printer driver system 10 b shown in FIG. 2, in which theset 16 of printer driver preference settings 18 is downloaded 46 fromthe first client computer 12 a, across the network 22, and is storedwithin storage 44 of the print server 42. As described above, asignificant portion of a set 16 of printer driver preferences 18 oftenrelates to a characteristic feature set 28 of the connected outputdevice (e.g., the printer 26), and many client computers 12 a-12 nconnected across a network 22 often have print jobs 21 which requiresimilar preferences 18. Therefore, the stored set 16 of printer driverpreference settings 18 is often useful for other client computers 12b-12 n.

FIG. 4 is a third view 40 c of the second embodiment of a reusable andtransferable printer driver system 10 b shown in FIG. 2, in which thestored set 16 of printer driver preference settings 18 is then sent 48(i.e., distributed or selectably uploaded) from the print server 42 toother client computers 12 b, . . . , 12 n. The uploaded set 16 ofprinter driver preference settings 18 is subsequently used by the otherclient computers 12 b, . . . , 12 n in the process of printing files 21at the printer 26 connected to the print server 42.

FIG. 5 shows a set 16 of selected printer driver preference values 18a-18 n, based upon printer driver categories 47 a-47 n. The set 16 ofprinter driver preferences 18 a-18 n are set values which are requiredto successfully print a print job 21 at a networked printer 26. Withinthe entire set of printer driver categories 47 a-47 n is typically acommon category subset 49 a of settings 47 a-47 i which are common tomost printers 26 (e.g., such as selected page size, input tray,orientation, and media type). As well, within the entire set of printerdriver categories 47 a-47 n is typically a printer specific subset 49 bof settings 47 j-47 n which are specific to a particular printer 26,based on the feature set 28 (i.e., the capabilities) of that printer 26(e.g., duplex, sorting, finishing options). A specified reusable andtransferable set 16 of printer preferences 18 typically includes a setname 51 (preferably user-selectable or MIS department selectable), whichallows users at different client computers 12 a-12 n to easily identifyand use one or more sets 16 of printer preferences 18 for differentprint jobs 21.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a user interface 50 for a printer driver14 for a reusable and transferable printer preference system 10, locatedon a client computer 12. The client computer 12 typically comprises aprocessing unit 52, a monitor 54 having a display screen 56, and inputdevices, such as a keyboard 58 and a mouse 60. Within the user interface50 of the printer driver 14, a user views, defines or modifies a set 16of selectable printer driver preferences 18. In basic embodiments of thereusable and transferable set of printer preferences system 10 a, 10 b,the user interface 50 allows sets 16 to be defined and reused for aparticular connected printer 26. However, preferred embodiments of thesystem 10 allow sets 16 of transferable printer preferences 18 to bereadily defined, transferred and modified for use with differentprinters 26, and even for different printers 26 having different featuresets 28 a-28 n (FIG. 11).

The user interface 50 has a general settings interface 62, providing ageneral set of all the preferences 18 which the user can specify. Theuser interface 50 preferably includes a set name interface 66, in whicha user may enter a desired name 51 (e.g., “Newsletter 1”) for a givenset 16 of preferences 18, such as by using the keyboard 58. The toplevel settings 64 a-64 n typically include setting group controls 64,such as for color options 64 a, scale options 64 b, and finishingoptions 64 c.

When the user activates a general setting choice 64, such as activatinga group button 70 a, 70 b, or 70 c, the user interface 50 typicallydisplays a related preference selection window or expanded submenu 72,as shown in FIG. 7, whereby the user may specify detailed preferencesettings 18. In FIG. 7, the user has activated the expanded colorsettings submenu 72 a by selecting the color setting button 70 a in FIG.6. The color settings submenu 72 a includes detailed selectable colorsettings. For color settings, typical option groups of preferences arebusiness color 74 a, expert color 74 b, or grayscale 74 c. For example,business color 74 a is typically defined by preset color preferences 18,wherein the user interface 50 specifies basic color settings (e.g.,typically specifying an adequate color palette that is reproducible by acolor printer 26 for general business documents). As well, basicgrayscale printing output 74 c may be selected.

In contrast to more generic grayscale settings or business colorsettings 74 a, expert color output 74 b may optionally be selected,whereby a user has the option to manually specify more detailed colorsettings (e.g., such as for color calibration and specified PANTONE™color matching (by Pantone Incorporated, of Moonachie, N.J.)). In FIG.7, if expert color output 74 b is activated, a secondary submenu wouldtypically be presented to the user within the user interface 50, so thatthe user may select detailed expert color preferences 18.

In a similar manner to the selection of color preferences 18, otherpreferences 18 may be selected within the user interface 50, such asprinting media selection (e.g., substrate type selection, such as paperor transparency, tray selection, and paper size selection), or otherprocessing preferences, such as finishing, orientation, duplex,stapling, binding, and/or hole punching preferences.

The user interface 50 shown FIG. 7 also includes a graphicrepresentation of a plurality of defined sets 16 a-16 c of printerpreferences 18. The currently displayed set 16 is selectable, such as byactivation of layered sets 16 by tabs 75 a-75 c. For example, thedisplayed set 16 a is currently displayed in FIG. 7. When a user selectsa preference set tab 75, the selection windows 62, 72 for the selectedset 16 is displayed, and presents the selected preference options to theuser, such as a detailed set view (FIG. 5), a general control interface62 (FIG. 6), or more specific option submenus 72.

The resulting set 16 of printer preferences 18 is based upon the chosenpreference 18 for each setting 47 (FIG. 5). A user may create aplurality of sets 16 a-16 n of preferences 18, typically for differenttypes of print jobs 21, from within the printer driver control interface50. Although a user may create a set 16 of preferences 18 byindividually selecting each preference 18, the user may also modify apreviously defined set 16 (e.g., modifying the selected preferences 18for “Newsletter 1”), or may modify a previously defined set 16 and savethe modified set as a new set 16 (e.g., modifying the selected page sizeand finishing preferences 18 for “Newsletter 1” and retaining the colorpreferences for “Newsletter 1,” and saving the modified set 16 as“Proposal 1”).

In this example, different print jobs 21 created by one or more clientcomputers 12 a-12 n, using either the first set 16 a, named “Newsletter1,” or the second set 16 b, named “Proposal 1,” may quickly beprocessed. For detailed print jobs 21, such as where color preferences18 are quite complicated, the resulting print jobs 21 may be processedwith strict color preferences 18, whereas other printer preferences 18may differ. For example, a newsletter print job 21 commonly involves atwo-page, two-sided folded layout, whereas a business proposal print job21 is commonly printed on single-sided letter size paper. However,related documents often incorporate coordinated color palettes. Thereusable and transferable printer preference system 10 thus allows sets16 of preferences 18, or portions of sets 16 of preferences 18 to beefficiently and accurately defined, transferred, and modified.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an active application 20 on a clientcomputer 12, which is linked to a printer driver 14 for reusable andtransferable printer preferences 18. Within the active application 20,the user typically accesses the transferable printer preference system10 through the a print control 83 on a file submenu 85. Selection of theprint control 83 typically displays a general print submenu 87 fromwithin the active application 20, wherein a print properties control 89within the general print submenu 87 provides access to the generalsettings interface 62 of the transferable printer preference system 10.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a user interface 50 for a printer driver 14for the reusable and transferable printer preference system 10 linked toan active application 20 on a client computer 12. When the user selectsa defined set 16 from a set selection submenu 78, such as byhighlighting 80 the desired set 16, the selected preferences 18 arechanged to reflect the defined preferences 18, and the user may quicklyprocess a print job 21. The general settings interface 62 includes anexpandable preferences display 91, which can be expanded by expand menucontrol 95 a, or compressed (showing only top level settings 64 a-64 n),by compress menu control 95 b. When the user activates a general settingchoice 64, such as activating a group button 70, the control interface50 typically displays a related preference selection window or expandedsubmenu 72, as shown in FIG. 7, whereby the user may specify detailedpreference settings 18.

The general settings interface 62 also preferably includes a settingsummary display 93, and a page layout thumbnail preview 94. The settingsummary display 93 provides an overview of preference categories 47 a-47n and selected settings 18 a-18 n for the current set 16 of preferences18. The page layout thumbnail preview 94 provides a graphicrepresentation of the current page layout, as a print job would beprinted to an output device 26 (e.g., the graphic representation in FIG.9 currently shows a portrait orientation setting 18 c on letter sizepaper setting 18 a, as shown in setting summary display 93).

The general settings interface 62 also includes a settings selectioncontrol 92, which provides access to a detailed settings submenu 98,wherein a user can control the transfer of sets 16 of printerpreferences 18. FIG. 10 is a settings submenu 98 of a user interface fora printer driver 14 for the reusable and transferable printer preferencesystem 10 linked to an active application 20 on a client computer 12.The settings submenu 98 includes controls for exporting 32 (FIG. 1) aselected set 16 of printer preferences 18, importing 34 (FIG. 1) aselected set 16 of printer preferences 18, storing 46 a selected set 16of printer preferences 18 (FIG. 3), retrieving 48 a selected set 16 ofprinter preferences 18 (FIG. 4), or saving a selected set 16 of printerpreferences 18 as a new set 16, through Save As control 99.

Within a network 22, transferable and reusable sets 16 may therefore bedefined at one or more client computers 12 a-12 n, and may bedistributed to other networked devices, such as to client computers 12a-12 n or to print servers 42. For users located at a plurality ofclient computers 12 a-12 n, the distributed sets may readily be used,such as for multiple users working on one or more related project. Eachuser may send each project (i.e., a print job 21) to a printer 26, andobtain similar printed outputs, since the set 16 of printer preferences18 is equivalent across all client computers 12 a-12 n.

System Use for a Plurality Printers having Different Feature Sets. Inbasic embodiments of the transferable and reusable printer preferencesystem 10, sets 16 of printer driver preferences 18 can be transferredbetween multiple client computers 12 a-12 n for jobs which are sent tothe same printer 26. In preferred embodiments, sets 16 of printer driverpreferences 18 are used to send print jobs 21 to different printers 26a-26 n, either from the same client computer 12, or from differentclient computers 12 a-12 n. Although sets 16 of printer preferences 18are typically specified in terms of an available feature set 28 for aconnected printer 26 (e.g., a first printer 26a), the sets 16 may bemodified within the transferable and reusable printer preference system10 to function with different printers 26 a-26 n having differentfeature sets 28 a-28 n.

FIG. 11 shows multiple printer embodiment of the transferable andreusable printer preference system 10 c, having a first client computer12 a in communication with a first printer 26 a, and a second clientcomputer 12 b in communication with a second printer 26 b. The set 16 ofprinter preferences 18 shown is defined on the first client computer 12a, and is specified to perform a particular type of print job 21 at thefirst printer 26 a. As described above, a user at the first clientcomputer 12 a may selectably send 32 one or more sets 16 of printerdriver preferences 18 to the second client computer 12 b. The transferor distribution of sets 16 may be accomplished by several means, such asby e-mail, or by intermediate storage on a server (e.g., such as printserver 42 (FIGS. 2-4)).

Translation of Set Preferences. FIG. 12 is a translation diagram 100typically used by the multiple printer embodiment of the transferableand reusable printer preference system 10 c. When an initial set 16 x ofpreferences 18, having been specified for use at a first printer 26having a first feature set 28 a, is used to print a print job 21 at adifferent printer 26, having a different feature set 28 b (sent fromeither the same computer 12 a or a different computer 12 b), the system10 preferably modifies the initial set 16 x of preferences 18 to createa modified set 16 y, as needed, to accomplish the selected print job 21.

The multiple printer platform printer driver 14 b preserves the definedpreferences 18 which are usable 102 for a different destination printer26 b. Although the application 10, 50 and multiple platform printerdriver 14 b preserves as many preferred settings 18 as possible (e.g.,retains the main code of the initial set 16), there are often features30 which are different between different printers, and preferencesspecified in an initial set 16 x which are not directly usable for a newdestination printer 26. For preferred preferences 18 which are notdirectly usable for the destination printer, the printer driver 14 usesdefault setting preferences 104 that are required to successfully printto the second printer 26.

For example, a common printer preference 18 may be “duplex” printing.For different printers 26 which have a “duplex” printing preference 18available within each their defined feature sets 28, the printer driver14 and translation control 100 matches 102 the “duplex” option 18.Meanwhile, other non-matching settings 104, which are not directlyavailable to the new printer 26, are typically translated to defaultpreferences 18 for the new destination printer 26 b. In a preferredembodiment, where more than one default setting preference is possibleat a destination printer 26, translation control 100 providescontrollable selection of the default preferences 104.

Conflict Resolution. When translating sets 16 of printer preferences 18,or when merging sets 16 of printer preferences 18 (FIG. 14), there areoccasionally selected features from one set 16 which are not directlytranslated to an available selectable preference 18, or an availablefeature 28 on a different output device 26. Therefore, when sets 16 ofreusable and transferable printer preferences 18 are imported to aclient computer 12, retrieved from external storage 44 across a network,or are used to send a print job 21 to a different printer 26 than a set16 was originally intended, detailed resolution between preferences 18is sometimes required.

Each set 16 includes a plurality of defined preferences 18, and eachpreference has a defined preference name or keyword 107. Although theremay be equivalent or similar features 30 within feature sets 28 ofdifferent printers, the terminology 107 used to describe a preference 18related to each feature 30 may be different for different printers 26.The printer driver 14 and translation control 100 attempts to match asmany preferences as possible, substitutes default setting 104 wherepossible (FIG. 12), and if needed, allows the user to match othernon-matching preferences 18, to correctly match preferences 18 whichwere incorrectly matched by the automated system (e.g., such as fromdifferences in keywords 107), or to resolve other conflicts.

The translation and modification of sets 16, and comparison betweenpreferences 18 and keywords 107 is accomplished internally to theprinter driver application 14. Alternatively, supplementary translationformat applications, such as an XML format application, may be used inconjunction with the printer driver 14, such as to store and transfersetting parameters 47 a-47 n and their values 18 a-18 n within astandardized XML format, and to compare and translate parameters 47,keywords 107, and preference values 18. The use of XML formats providessimple key value pair association describing the settings 18 for aspecific printer 26. The transfer of settings 18 in XML format ispreferred, since there are no additional page description language (PDL)specific commands that are required.

Keyword Matching. Common features 30 are often described using the sameterminology preferences 18 for different printers 26 manufactured by thesame company (e.g., using unified terminology and keywords for features30 and selectable preferences 18). However, an equivalent or similarfeature 30 provided on a printer 26 from a different manufacturer mayhave different terminology or keywords for features 30 and selectablepreferences 18.

The multiple platform printer driver 14 b and translation control 100therefore preferably provides keyword matching controls, whereby a usercan match up preferences 18 between an initial set 16 x (FIG. 12), andnon-matching 104 preferences 18 in the modified set 16 y.

FIG. 13 shows keyword matching 106 between different sets 16 ofpreferences 18. Through the user interface 50 or translation controlinterface 100, a user may optionally resolve such conflicts interminology by matching key words 107. For example, as shown in FIG. 13,a first set 16 of preferences 18 is defined for a first printer 26 a,and describes a page layout option as “Two-page” 107. However, thesecond printer 26 a shown requires a similar layout option to bedescribed as “Tabloid” 107. In this scenario, the user may optionallyresolve the conflict, by matching 108 the “Two-page” keyword 107 forpreference 18 n in the first set 16 x to the “Tabloid” keyword 107 forpreference 18 n in the first set 16 y.

Selective Merging. FIG. 14 shows selective merging 110 of selectedpreferences 18 between a plurality of sets 16 a, 16 b of reusable andtransferable printer preferences 18, to create a new set 16 n ofreusable and transferable printer preferences 18. For example, a usermay desire to create a new set 16 n, based on specific color preferences18 from an earlier defined set (e.g., set 16 a), and may also desirefinishing preferences 18 based on a different set (e.g., set 16 b) Theselective merging window 110 allows a user to choose selectedpreferences 18 between two or more previously defined sets, to create anew set 16. Within the selective merging window 110, the user highlights112 a, 112 b desired preferences 18 from existing sets 16 a, 16 b. In analternate embodiment, a user can slide over (i.e., drag) 113 a thedesired preferences 18 or groups of preferences (e.g., color outputsettings 18) from the first set 16 a to the new set 16 n, and slide over113 b the desired preferences 18 or groups of preferences (e.g., finishsettings) from the second set 16 b to the new set 16 n.

The user may also select other preferences 18 based upon choices otherthan those available, such as by a pop-up menu 114 of preferences 18.The user may then save and use the new set 16 n, as merged from two ormore prior sets, and may optionally modify the preferences 18 for thenew set 16 n, by selecting preferences 18 from selection menus.

Translated or selected preference options 18 which conflict with otherselected preferences 18 in the new set 16 n (i.e., the selectedpreference is not available, or cannot be performed) are preferablyhighlighted 118. In a preferred embodiment, context-sensitive helpprovides a user with supplementary information regarding a potentialconflict (e.g., a conflict resolution dialog). For a highlightedconflict 118, a user preferably activates a pop-up menu 114 ofpreferences 18, and chooses a preference 18 which is not conflicthighlighted 118. The user selectably pulls down the highlightedpreference 118, such as by opening a pop-up menu 114, which shows whichitem choices 18 would still be conflicted 118, and which would beacceptable. Pop-up menu 114 typically displays all selectablepreferences 18, such as preferences 18 defined by the initial sets 16being merged (e.g., preference Opt N-1 from a first set 16 a, andpreference Opt N-2 from a second set 16 a), as well as other selectablepreferences 18 (e.g., preference Opt N-3) for the new destinationprinter 26.

In a preferred embodiment, a log is prepared for selected sets 16 ofpreferences 18 for a processed print job 21. For imported printer driversets 16 where preferences 18 were matched, such as by terminologyresolution 106 or by conflict resolution 118, the eventual outputresulting from the selected set 16 may be fine, or may produceundesirable output, such as if one or more preferences 18 wereimproperly resolved. The job log therefore provides a convenient meansto capture and provide feedback to the resolution process, based onsuccessful or unsuccessful output. The user may preferably inspect thejob log, to compare the chosen preferences 18 for the current print job21 to the imported preferences 18, such as to detect discrepancies.

Master Sets of Printer Preferences. In the prior art, secondary userscurrently have to make each and every change to a printer driver, suchas through sub-menus, before a print job 21 is printed, even if the useris printing to the same printer 26 as the first user. Such manual entryof detailed multiple settings is prone to error. For complicated colorprocess printers 26 or large format plotters 26, the resulting mistakescan be quite extensive and costly.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram a multiple printer embodiment of thetransferable and reusable printer preference system 10 d, wherein sets16 of reusable and transferable preferences 18 are established, storedand maintained at a central administrative workstation 120. In anetworked environment 22, there are often collaborative efforts betweena plurality of users at a plurality of client computers 12. It is oftendesirable to specify and control the publication of documents from asingle computer 12 or administrative workstation 120, such as in apublishing or MIS environment, where multiple users are responsible forcreating one or more documents requiring strictly controlled features,such as page layouts and color preferences.

In contrast to the prior art, master sets 16 of preferences 18 arepreferably established at a single location, such as at anadministrative workstation 120, and are then broadcast out to networkedclient computers 12 a-12 n, to provide controlled output of print jobs21 at one or more printers 26 a-26 n.

A user, such as an MIS administrator, at an administrative workstation120 may establish sets of preferences 18, and may preferably control thestorage and modification of the defined sets 16. In a publishingenvironment, therefore, print jobs 21 can be processed by any user at aclient computer 12 a-12 n, using the sets 16 defined and maintained bythe administrative workstation 120. The administrative user may alsomodify defined sets 16 of preferences 18 for operation at any of aplurality of print servers 42 a-42 n and output devices 26 a-26 n,whereby a print job 21 sent from any client computer 12 a-12 n isprocessed similarly. Individual users at client computers 12 are notrequired to modify their own sets 16 of preferences 18, since they areautomatically supplied with a networked choice of available sets 16 ofprinter preferences 18, such as through the user interface of their userapplications 20.

For example, in a networked environment between client computers 12 a-12n that is used for color graphics production, there are often detailedand complicated color calibrations within a specified set 16 of printerpreferences 18, by which a plurality of users are required to use thesame specified set 16 of printer preferences 18 (e.g., often comprisingas many as twenty different calibration steps, brightness values, swapsimulation values, CID selection values, and ITC profile values).

System Advantages. The transferable printer driver preferences system 10and its methods of use provide reusable and transferable sets 16 ofprinter driver preferences 18. For a single user working at one or moreclient computers 12 a-12 n, defined sets 16 are always close at hand.Sets 16 can be easily merged to provide similar output and finishing atmultiple output devices 26. Different users at different clientcomputers 12 a-12 n have access to defined sets, and can use them “asis,” or may modify them or merge them with other sets to quickly andefficiently create new printer driver preference sets 16. In amaster-client environment 10 d (FIG. 15), one or more sets 16 of printerdriver preferences 18 are defined and controlled from a central location120, whereby the application files 21 produced or modified at one ormore client computers 12 a-12 n are similarly formatted, using thepre-defined and selectable sets 16 of printer driver preferences 18.

Although the reusable and transferable printer driver preferences system10 and its methods of use are described herein in connection with clientcomputers 12, networks 22, print servers 42, and printers 26, the systemand techniques can be implemented with other computers 12, servers andimage processing devices, such as print controllers, scanners andcopiers, or any combination thereof, as desired.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described in detail withreference to a particular preferred embodiment, persons possessingordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains willappreciate that various modifications and enhancements may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.

1. A system comprising: means for establishing a printer driverpreference set at a first client computer for sending a first print jobto an output device; means for sending the set from the first clientcomputer to a second client computer; and means for using the set at thesecond client computer to send a second print job to the output device.2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for modifying aprinter driver preference in the set at the second client computer. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a printer. 4.The system of claim 1., wherein the printer driver preference setcomprises a plurality of printer driver preference values.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the printer driver preference set comprises a meansfor identifying the set.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means forestablishing comprises a user interface.
 7. A system comprising: meansfor establishing a printer driver preference set at a first clientcomputer for sending a first print job to an output device; means forsending the set from the first client computer to a print server; meansfor sending the set from the print server to a second client computer.8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for using the set atthe second client computer to send a second print job to the outputdevice.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the print server comprises astorage device adapted to store the set.
 10. The system of claim 7,further comprising means for sending the set from the print server to aplurality of client computers.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein theoutput device comprises a printer.
 12. The system of claim 7, whereinthe printer driver preference set comprises a plurality of printerdriver preference values.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the meansfor establishing comprises a user interface.
 14. A system comprising:means for establishing a printer driver preference set at a firstcomputer for sending a first print job to a first output device having afirst feature set; means for sending the printer driver preference setfrom the first client computer to a second client computer; and meansfor using the printer driver preference set at the second clientcomputer to send a second print job to a second output device having asecond feature set.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first outputdevice comprises a printer.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein thesecond feature set differs from the first feature set.
 17. The system ofclaim 14, further comprising means for modifying a printer driverpreference within the set at the second client computer.
 18. The systemof claim 17, wherein the means for modifying selects a default printerdriver preference for the second output device.
 19. The system of claim17, wherein the means for modifying matches a printer driver preferencefor the second output device to a printer driver preference for thefirst output device.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means formodifying further comprises a means for overriding the match.